SS: New API Codes: Updates, New Suite of Standards - the Strategy and Structure of the API 2 Series

Abstract

API Subcommittee 2 stewards the API Series 2 Recommended Practices and Specification for offshore structures. The Series 2 documents are in the process of realignment. Coupled with several new documents, considerable expansion of key existing RP sections and the impact of recent hurricanes, a considerable change in look, feel and content is underway. The two primary foci for SC 2 consist of providing standards for US waters and leading the US input into the ISO 19900 series of offshore standards.The paper will outline the various components and drivers for the ongoing Subcommittee 2 strategies. These include alignment with the ISO 19900 series (to minimize time and expense of maintaining multiple standards), adjusting to US regulatory changes, incorporating into industry practices the lessons learned from recent hurricanes, while reflecting the effects of the shifts in infrastructure capabilities and industry resources.The history of offshore standards has often been affected by external events. Tropical storms, earthquakes and political unions among others have shaped, and continue to shape, the offshore standards the industry uses today and is developing for the future. As a result of a global strategy developed in the mid-1990's, the API standards are undergoing a comprehensive realignment to better support the broad spectrum of offshore activities and operations in which the industry is engaged today, and is expected to pursue in the future.